Google has just acquired Nest Labs, the maker of the Nest Learning Thermostat and Protect smoke detector, for $3.2 billion in cash. Nest reinvented unloved but important home products, like the thermostat and the smoke alarm focusing on simple, beautiful and thoughtful hardware and services. Google CEO Larry Page announced this on his Google+ stream:

Google is being quick to assure users that Nest will continue to operate under its own brand. While the transaction is subject to the usual regulatory review, Google says it expects the sale to close within the next few months. Google Ventures had already invested millions of dollars in Nest, so the company has been on Mountain View’s radar for some time now.

How Google plans to use Nest is still a mystery, but the company obviously sees it as an important part of its future. A combination of Nest’s home solutions coupled with Google’s language recognition could give Google its strongest path yet into your home.

“Google will help us fully realize our vision of the conscious home and allow us to change the world faster than we ever could if we continued to go it alone,” writes co-founder Tony Fadell on the Nest blog.“We’ve had great momentum, but this is a rocket ship.”

“We’re thrilled to join Google. With their support, Nest will be even better placed to build simple, thoughtful devices that make life easier at home, and that have a positive impact on the world.” Nest CEO Tony Fadell said in a statement.

Nest will continue to offer apps for both iOS and Android. That means Apple fans will not be left disappointed. There’s also a possibility that Google’s other products will eventually integrate more tightly with the Nest lineup, but so far, Google is staying mum. Until that day comes, we’ll leave you to speculate — feel free to leave your best guesses in the comments.